Howlite is a white borosilicate mineral with gray veining and a monoclinic structure. It forms in a strange way that makes it look like a head of cauliflower with the texture of unglazed porcelain! Howlite was named after the 19th century Canadian mineralogist Henry How who first discovered the gemstone in Nova Scotia, Canada in 1868. After first being found in Nova Scotia, Howlite has also been located in Canada, Mexico, Germany, New Brunswick and California!

Howlite is formed in evaporite deposits that resulted from the alteration of volcanic ash. Evaporite deposits are sedimentary rock formations that happen when water with high mineral content evaporates. When volcanic ash mixes with water, it undergoes a series of chemical reactions. The ash contains a variety of elements, such as calcium, boron, silicon and oxygen. Over time, these elements react with the water, allowing Howlite to eventually form. Howlite is known to occur with other minerals such as quartz, gypsum and calcite. 

It is a fairly soft stone, only being a 3.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Because of its softness, Howlite has been used to create jewelry for centuries. Indigenous cultures would alsoFor example, they would make Howlite beaded jewelry, carved pendants and cultural artifacts. Howlite became a hot commodity in the 19th century as a replacement for more expensive gemstones such as turquoise or coral! Howlite, due to its high porosity and bright white color, can be easily dyed to look like those brightly colored turquoises and corals. 

Energetically, Howlite is a stone of calmness, harmony and peace. It is a great stone to keep in any space of your home to instill a sense of calm and focus. The spidery gray veining is thought to represent intrusive thoughts and that they are to be acknowledged and then passed by. Howlite is also known to help bring clarity to cloud situations and mindsets, allowing one to tune into their intuitive self and make the best decisions possible.